Sturgeon knocks woman out of boat on Suwannee River

A 32-year-old Chiefland woman boating on the Suwannee River was hit by a 60- to 70-pound jumping sturgeon on Saturday, knocking her unconscious and out of the boat.

By Cindy SwirkoStaff writer

This is a big fish tale and, unfortunately for a Chiefland woman, it's no lie.

Brianne H. Megargel, 31, was knocked out of her boat Saturday on the Suwannee River by a jumping sturgeon.

On Tuesday, she was laid up in Shands at the University of Florida with two broken arms, a broken collarbone, several broken ribs, a lacerated liver, facial trauma and four missing teeth.

“She is a tough cookie, that's for sure,” said Megargel's father, Michael Hart. “She's always been an active person. Now she's in bed with two broken arms and realizing she isn't going to be able to do anything for herself.”

Megargel was in a 17-foot boat in the middle of the Suwannee River near Manatee Springs State Park with her husband, Steve, and his 10-year-old son, Greyson. They usually are on a boat somewhere on weekends — from cruising the Suwannee to lobstering in the Keys.

Her parents said the Megargels had seen sturgeon jumping — a common if not understood practice this time they year when the thickly scaled fish spawn. Brianne Megargel was sitting next to her husband. In an instant, she was face down in the water unconscious.

The boat was going about 25 mph. The fish weighed about 70 pounds. Given the dynamics, the impact to Brianne Megargel was severe.

“It was very serious. She is a miracle,” said her mom, Sandra Vance. “She has to get surgery on both arms.”

Steve Megargel immediately dove in to rescue his wife — neither were wearing life jackets. The Suwannee is about 750 feet wide at that point with a swift current.

While Steve Megargel hung onto his wife, the distance between them and the boat grew.

But Greyson captained the boat to them, maneuvering it into position to help get Brianne — who was unconscious for about a minute — in the craft.

“I believe if it hadn't been for him that Brianne wouldn't be here today, that she would have drowned,” Hart said. “My grandson was still in the boat. He stayed composed enough ... to operate that boat and get it into position where he could get his mama back on board.”

Vance called Greyson her hero for saving Brianne, who was taken to Shands by helicopter. Her parents said the family is a large one with lots of relatives and friends who will help care for Brianne — a nurse — during her recovery.

This is the second sturgeon encounter this year. On May 11 an Old Town man was injured when he collided with a sturgeon that jumped in front of his boat near Rock Bluff.

Gulf sturgeon can reach 8 feet and weigh 200 pounds, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. An estimated 10,000 to 14,000 swim up the Suwannee River in the spring to spawn, with adults spending eight to nine months there and the cooler months in the Gulf.

FWC has signs posted along the river warning of jumping sturgeon.

The number of incidents a year varies, said district FWS spokeswoman Karen Parker. Last year, six people were injured from 11 encounters, Parker said. In 2010, no one was injured. The worst years were 2006 and 2007 when nine people were injured in each year.

Sturgeon are a protected species and cannot be caught, killed or possessed.

“If one jumps in a boat, people should put it back in the water but be very careful. Wrap your hands in a towel,” Parker said. “If one should die from thrashing around in a boat, they should give us a call.”